The causes of lipid metabolism disorders A number of diseases are associated with the problem of lipid metabolism disorders. The most important among them are obesity and atherosclerosis. Diseases of the cardiovascular system rank first among the common causes of death in the world. One of the most common manifestations of atherosclerosis is the damage to the coronary heart vessels. Cholesterol accumulation in the walls of the vessels causes the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. They increase in size to cover the lumen of the vessel and interfere with the proper blood flow. If the blood flow then deteriorates in the coronary arteries, then a myocardial infarction or angina occurs. The direction to atherosclerosis depends on the concentration of transport parameters of blood lipids in plasma alpha-lipoproteins.

Two factors that are known to cause lipid metabolism disorders are the most known:

  1. Change in LLNL particles. Therefore, they are captured by cells of a special type - "scavengers"( mainly macrophages).Capture of lipoprotein particles with the help of "garbage" receptors is carried out without control. In comparison with B / E-mediated endocytosis, this leads to regulatory effects aimed at decreasing the passage to the CS cell, as described above. As a result, macrophages overfill lipids, they lose the function of absorbing harmful substances and become foamy cells. The latter remain in the vessel wall and secrete growth factors, accelerating cell division. Atherosclerotic cell proliferation is formed.
    instagram viewer
  2. Ineffective release of cholesterol from the vascular wall endothelium by circulating HDL-C.

Deterioration of lipid metabolism, characterized mainly by a high content of triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood, are considered important risk factors for atherosclerosis, as well as related diseases of the cardiovascular system. The concentration of total cholesterol in the plasma or its fractions is closely related to the incidence and even mortality from coronary heart disease and other complications from atherosclerosis. Therefore, the determination of lipid metabolism disorders is considered an important condition for the qualitative prevention of heart disease.

The causes of lipid metabolism disorders can cause primary and secondary impairment, characterized only by an increase in the cholesterol, triglyceride, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Primary disorder is associated with certain or multiple gene changes, as a result, there is a deterioration in the utilization of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, or hyperproduction and deterioration in HDL clearance.

Primary worsening of lipid metabolism can be established in patients with clinical indices of these impairments, at an early stage of atherosclerosis( 60 years), in people with a family history of atherosclerosis or with an increase in serum cholesterol content above 240 mg / dL.

Secondary impairment of lipid metabolism is formed most often in residents of developed countries due to a sedentary lifestyle, a diet that contains a lot of cholesterol, fatty acids.

Other causes of secondary deterioration of lipid metabolism can be considered:

  1. Diabetes mellitus;
  2. Excessive use of alcohol;
  3. Chronic kidney failure;
  4. Hyperthyroidism;
  5. Biliary primary cirrhosis;
  6. Admission of individual drugs( antiretroviral substances, beta-blockers, progestins, esrogens, glucocorticoids);

Consider what are the inherited impairments of lipid metabolism. In a small number of people, hereditary impairments in the metabolism of lipoproteins can be observed, which manifest themselves in hyper- or hypolipoproteinemia. Their cause can be considered deterioration of synthesis, splitting or transport of lipoproteins.


Based on the generally accepted classification, there are 5 main types of hyperlipoproteinemia :

  1. The existence of the first type is due to a lack of activity in LPL.Because of this, the output of chylomicrons is produced slowly from the bloodstream. They are aggregated in the blood, and an increased level of VLDL is also observed.
  2. Hyperlipoproteinemia of the second type is divided into two subspecies: 2a, which is characterized by a high content of LDL in the blood, and 2b( growth of VLDL and LDL).The second type of giperlipoproteinemia is characterized by high, and sometimes incredibly high, hypercholesterolemia in the subsequent development of atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. Normal content of triacylglycerides in the blood( 2a species) or moderate increased( 2b species).Hyperlipoproteinemia of the second type is characteristic of a complicated disease - hereditary hypercholesterolemia, which affects young people. In the case of a homozygous form, it ends with death at an early age from strokes, myocardial infarctions and other complications of atherosclerosis. Hyperlipoproteinemia of the second type is widespread.
  3. In the case of hyperlipoproteinemia of the third type, there are disruptions in the conversion of VLDL to LDL, and flotation pathological VLDL or LDL is formed in the blood. In the blood, the increased content of triacylglycerols and cholesterol. This species can be met very rarely.
  4. In the wormlike form of hyperlipoproteinemia, the main change is the growth of VLDL.As a result, serum content significantly increases the content of triacylglycerols. It is combined with obesity, coronary atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus. Primarily develops in adults and is very common.
  5. The fifth type of hyperlipoproteinemia is an increase in the content of XM in the serum, which is associated with a moderately reduced activity of lipoprotein lipase. The content of HDL and LDL is below normal. The blood content of triacylglycerols is increased, while the cholesterol content is within the norm or moderately increased. It can be found in adults, but it is not widely used. Typing of hyperlipoproteinemia is carried out in the laboratory on the basis of the study of concentration in the blood of different classes of lipoproteins by photometric methods.